Ranger built Ford tough

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This article was published 04/10/2019 (2214 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Brian Dechkas’ 1992 Ford Ranger has survived the brutal Canadian winters and its near destruction in an accident — but it keeps on trucking.

Dechkas has always been partial to the regular cab long box on the Ranger, he said, because it reminds him of his youth.

He purchased the truck from a good friend, who had restored the vehicle after it had been designated a write off by Autopac.

“It had been flipped on its side,” Dechkas said. “It was pretty munched up on the right side.”

His friend purchased the truck in the late 1990s and repaired it to the point it was good as new.

“I always told the friend that bought it, ‘when you ever need to sell that truck, let me know because I really like it,’” Dechka said with a grin.

He purchased the truck in December 2004 and has been slowly working on it.

The Ranger is a four-wheel-drive, five-speed standard that boasts a four-litre V6 engine from an Aerostar van Dechka installed approximately two years ago.

He has also installed a six-inch Skyjacker Suspensions lift kit along with a Superrunner Steering System paired with cosmetic additions that include fender flares and step bars.

“It’s served me well, it’s never really let me down in all the years I’ve had it,” Dechka said.

He has spent countless hours building the vehicle the way he wanted.

“I always envisioned this type of truck with this look, the big larger tires and race suspension,” Dechka said. “It took me a few years to get there, but I ended up with something that is basically what I envisioned.”

The Ford trucks of the early ’90s were one of the best vehicles to drive, Dechka said.

“The Ranger was the best bang for the buck,” Dechka said, explaining that they were so well made that they’re frequently still spotted on the road.

His Ford Ranger requires parts that are similar to the Ford Explorer, so it’s easy to get his hands on needed items and because it is “old school,” the truck is fairly simple to work on because there are minimal electronics, he said.

Dechka has always enjoyed tinkering with cars.

“Anything mechanical I’ve always liked to work on.”

The first car Pontiac Astre worked on was a 1974 Pontiac Astre — “basically Pontiac’s version of the Chevy Vega,” he said.

It was a challenging car to own, and he gained lots of experience working on the Astre to keep it on the road.

He also took power mechanics at Crocus Plains Regional Secondary School, but never pursued it as a career, instead choosing to use his skills as a hobby.

Somewhere down the road, Dechka may add a V8 engine to his Ranger, something comparable to a 5L Mustang engine, he said.

“The current engine is decent. It’s got more than enough motor in it for what it’s used for,” Dechka said. “But it’s not a V8 — it doesn’t have the sound, it doesn’t have the power.”

He is also debating re-gearing it to make the engine a little more user-friendly by lowering the gear ratio.

“But I may not do anything with it,” Dechka said with a chuckle. “I’ll play it by ear.”

He has avoided taking the Ranger out in the winter, and the care he has taken shows — right now, it is 99 per cent rust free and Dechka would like to keep it that way.

Canadian winters are not kind to vehicles, he said with a chuckle.

He had a mid-1970s Ford Maverick as his secondary vehicle and said he would one day like to try to find one to work on that is in decent shape.

“It’s not really a desirable car to work on, but it’s nostalgic — you can make them look OK.”

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